I seem to be clocking up a few cruises lately — I might need a frequent floater card at this rate! I’ve just returned from the Bravo Cruise of Performing Arts aboard the Carnival Luminosa, sailing from 11–19 October. It was nine days of sunshine, song, and sea air shared with five fabulous women — friends, new friends, and a relative thrown in for good measure.
Setting Sail
We left from Sydney, waving goodbye to the skyline and all sense of routine. The first three days were spent at sea, which might sound relaxing — but not on the Luminosa! There were shows morning, noon, and night: opera, Broadway tunes, jazz, chamber music, opera, even a bit of dancing. You couldn’t walk a metre without bumping into a violinist or a tenor warming up.
On the second afternoon, we were heading to the Ocean Plaza for a show but got lost on the way. At the bottom of the third flight of stairs, I said to anyone who would listen, ‘I think we’re on the wrong deck.’
A lovely Irish voice answered, ‘You’ve gone too far. It’s on Level Two.’
It was none other than Damian Leith, who was one of the on-board entertainers! And that’s how it was. We were rubbing shoulders and chatting with famous entertainers everywhere (see list below.)
My kind of chaos!
Lifou Island – A Blue Beyond Blue
By day four, we were ready to stretch our sea legs at Lifou Island, New Caledonia. My cousin Jeanette and I hopped off to explore. Warm sand sifted between my toes, and a salty breeze brushed my face. The gentle breeze carried the sound of the sea lapping on the shore, while palm trees swayed as if they’d been choreographed. Locals were selling fresh coconuts for drinking. We each had one – cool, sweet and oh, so refreshing.
Jeanette bought some sizzling chicken kebabs that the locals were cooking on the beach for us to share. They were delicious. We wandered for a while, then slipped into the water. It was cool at first but as it was such a warm day it didn’t take long to warm up.
On the way back to the ship, we stopped at a market selling mostly fruit and vegetables, along with island handcrafts — necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and brightly coloured clothing. And let’s not forget the massages. Local women were spruiking their services. Naturally, we couldn’t resist. For just five Australian dollars each, we enjoyed a fifteen-minute massage. I chose a shoulder and arm, while Jeanette had a neck massage. We were slathered with fragrant oils as the ladies went to work on our old, creaky, achy bones. We returned to the ship sun-soaked and smiling, ready for dinner and the next show.
Mystery Island – The One That Got Away
The next day we reached Mystery Island — which, true to its name, remains a mystery to me because I didn’t get off the ship! My grand plan was to swim, but after a hefty dose of sunburn from the day before, I decided to play it safe thinking, It’s just another island. Uninhabited at that. It doesn’t need my body on there. Famous last words. Later, I found out Mystery Island is actually part of Vanuatu — somewhere I’ve never been. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have been so wimpy. And I would’ve been able to cross Vanuatu off my ‘islands visited’ list.
Nouméa – Coffee and Croissants
Our final stop was Nouméa, and I’d imagined it would feel like a little slice of France. But it didn’t really. There was plenty of French spoken, but the place had all the hallmarks of an island – which it is. Not a corner of Europe – which it isn’t. Our travel buddies Heather and Faye were on a mission to find a café they’d visited 11 years earlier. Against all odds, we found it — same spot, same coffee, same delicious smell. The cappuccinos were c’est magnifique!
I even worked up the courage to ask a lovely man at the next table, in my best French, which is not good, to take our photo. Judging by the wide smiles and laughter, he understood perfectly. That photo is now one of my favourites — proof that caffeine and travel friendships are a perfect match.
Back at Sea
We spent the last two days sailing back to Sydney, enjoying a series of shows and rediscovering the card game 500.
Food, Glorious(ish) Food
Now, about the food. Let’s just say it was… interesting. Some meals were a hit, others were more of a mystery. But the entertainment made up for everything. The performers were world-class, all backed by the Metropolitan Orchestra conducted by the amazing Guy Noble. Every night was a standing ovation.
By the time we cruised back into Sydney Harbour, sun-kissed and music-filled, we were ready to start planning the next adventure. Maybe it’s time for a loyalty program — “Sail Ten, Get One Free”?
Featured artists / performers
Featured artists / performers included: Celinde Schoenmaker, Teddy Tahu‑Rhodes, David Campbell, David Hobson, Silvie Paladino, Tom Burlinson, José Carbó, Rachael Beck, Georgia Wilkinson, Michael Cormick, Damien Leith, conductor Guy Noble and host/conductor Jonathon Welch AM, plus the resident orchestra The Metropolitan Orchestra.
Thanks ChatGPT for the featured image.
